Teenager from faith-healing family dies in Oregon

1 day ago

GLADSTONE, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a teenager from a faith-healing family died from an illness that could have been easily treated, just a few months after a toddler cousin of his died in a case that has led to criminal charges.

Tuesday's death of 16-year-old Neil Beagley, however, may not be a crime because Oregon law allows minors 14 and older to decide for themselves whether to accept medical treatment.

"All of the interviews from last night are that he did in fact refuse treatment," police Sgt. Lynne Benton said Wednesday. "Unless we can disprove that, charges probably won't be filed in this case."

An autopsy Wednesday showed Beagley died of heart failure caused by a urinary tract blockage.

He likely had a congenital condition that constricted his urinary tract where the bladder empties into the urethra, and the condition of his organs indicates he had multiple blockages during his life, said Dr. Clifford Nelson, deputy state medical examiner for Clackamas County.

"You just build up so much urea in your bloodstream that it begins to poison your organs, and the heart is particularly susceptible," Nelson said.

Nelson said a catheter would have saved the boy's life. If the condition had been dealt with earlier, a urologist could easily have removed the blockage and avoided the kidney damage that came with the repeated illnesses, Nelson said.

Benton said a board member of the Followers of Christ church contacted the authorities after Beagley died at his family's home. The teen had been sick about a week, and church members and his family had gathered to pray Sunday when his condition worsened, Benton said.

In March, the boy's 15-month-old cousin Ava Worthington died at home from bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection.

Her parents, Carl and Raylene Worthington, also belong to the church. They have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminal mistreatment, and their defense attorneys have indicated they will use a religious freedom defense.

After earlier deaths involving children of Followers of Christ believers, a 1999 Oregon law struck down religious shields for parents who treat their children solely with prayer. No one had been prosecuted under it until the Worthingtons' case.

Members and former members of the church in Oregon City have told The Oregonian newspaper in previous interviews that the congregation has 1,200 people. It has no apparent ties to other congregations or any mainstream denomination.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jB9F ... QD91CQGKO0

   

a few months back a girl dies of diebetes complications because her parents refuse medical treatments

   

if the patient refuses treatment that that should be it. they know the concequences.

yes its sad but when it all comes down to it,its their body and their life

   

Gimme a break.



The teenager, maybe, but the toddler........come on now. How is he supposed to make a decision about medicine saving his life??????????????????

   

a toddler no thats not right
but by law someone 14 and older is able to have the final say and I'm ok with that. i believe that someone should be able to make their own decision about their treatment without some politial figure that knows nothing about them to interfeer

   

unbelievable. Unbef*ckinlievable...

How is a 16 year old that is brainwashed into not getting any treatment whatsoever during his whole life supposed to make a decision on something SO simple as a catheter? No 16 year old in his right mind can figure out the concequences of actions like this.

F*cking moron parents. Care for your kids more than for your principles, you stupid asses!

(yeah, deaths so unnecessary as these piss me off big time...)

   

While I don't advocate the state getting involved in peoples personal lives, cases like these are the exception. If parents fail to protect their offsping they foreifit all their rights to those children, who should be taken away to a safe haven, by force if necessary.

Now when they find these asholes guilty, sterilization, after a lenghty jail sentence would be an appropriate punishment.

   

so if a child and a parent both have the same beliefs what right does anyone have to get involed?

dont get me wrong I dont think the right decision was made but I dont believe that we have the right to tell these people what they believe is wrong. no one should have the right to tell someone else that their faith and their beliefs are wrong

   

If their beliefs and faith endanger a minor the government should have the right to protect the child.

This isn't a case of not using electricity, driving or having more than one wife, it's a case of a toddler dying from lack of medical attention, that could have saved his life. As for their faith and belief, I am somewhat suspect of any belief that allows children to die, needlessly because of that belief.

   

Isn't suicide illegal?

   

   

and while its fair that you are somewhat suspect of that beliefs, they are not. and again I'm not refering to the toddler. THAT i dont agree with. but BY LAW anyone over 14 can make their own decisions and if they followed their beliefs then we shouln't judge the decision of the 16 year old for refusing treatment

   

I dunno, but it kinda strikes me that the age of consent for sex is 16, but you can legally choose to die at 14?

This kid was not able to make that choice. He was never given a choice, he was brainwashed with a belief.